Area track puts MARS event up against weather

The Weather Channel is a popular network for racing promoters, and the news it's delivered this year has been a mixed bag for Malden Speedway owner Bill Hampton.

The 3/8-mile dirt track is 3-2 against the weather this year -- three completed events, two rainouts -- with its biggest event scheduled today amid a forecast of scattered thunderstorms.

Coincidentally, it's a rescheduled MARS late model circuit event that was stopped by rain two weeks ago.

"The first few years, I'd be sick about the weather," Hampton said Wednesday. "This year, I've just decided that if it's meant to be, then it's meant to be. There's no fighting it.

"The only thing I'd wish for is that if it's gonna rain, that it'll just go ahead and rain us out now so we don't spend all day working on the track and getting people here tomorrow and then have to send them home at 7 o'clock."

Hampton is optimistic the weather will cooperate long enough today to complete one of the track's two scheduled MARS events this season, the other on July 4. Today's program features a $3,000-to-win late model event. Winston Cup racer Ken Schrader of Fenton, Mo., already is committed to racing in his No. 99 late model. National touring racer Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., said this week he also plans to compete before heading to an Xtreme Dirt Car Series event Friday in Kankakee, Ill. He won a regularly scheduled weekly event last month in his first visit to the Malden track.

"Moyer said he really likes the track and says it's a really racey track," Hampton said. "He's told a few other pretty big-named drivers about it, and last week we had Don O'Neal here, and he's one of the best drivers in the country. Word's getting around."

Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., leads the MARS point standings after winning the past three events on the circuit, including two last week at Bolivar, Mo., and Lebanon, Mo.

Modifieds, hobby stocks, pure stocks and cruisers also will compete today for their regular prize money, then return Friday for a regular weekly program, but minus late models.

For weather and ticket info, contact the track at 276-6265, or go to maldenspeedway.com.

Noteworthy

Randy Merick of Zalma, Mo., set a track record Saturday at Sikeston Drag Strip in 4.02 seconds (184 mph) in the pro mod class. Donnie Little of Columbia, Ill., was second.

Rain wiped out the remaining events. The track will host outlaw super street and easy-street events Saturday.

SEMO Raceway events in Blodgett, Mo., were rained out Saturday, but the track will begin its points season for karts and micro sprints Saturday.

Andy Pryor of Belleville, Ill., won his first UMP late model feature Friday at Fredericktown (Mo.)Raceway. Joe Giesler of St. Mary, Mo., won in modifieds. Rick Ruch of Perryville, Mo., topped the RAMS mini stocks.

The track's Azalea Racefest was cancelled Sunday due to rain. The make-up date is May 18. RAMS mini stocks and pure stocks are among the classes on the card.

Bronson Berry of Huntington, Tenn., won Friday's late model event at Malden Speedway. Greg Geiler of Fenton, Mo., was a first-time winner in modifieds. Tony Anglin of Hoxie, Ark., won in hobby stocks, and Greg Casey of Sikeston won in pure streets.